London’s weather didn’t disappoint, as we woke a very grey Sunday;  at least it was dry. We headed up to Highgate to explore the cemetery, get some fresh (and brisk) air into our lungs and stretch our legs. We arrived in time to join a tour of the graves … and it was worth it. Our guide, Angie, was so entertaining and knowledgeable. We were bombarded with facts (over 150,000 burials, 50,000+ graves and she helped decode the Victorian-era symbolisms of the tombs and headstones). And we saw a fox sleeping on a tomb!

We landed at Heathrow and within half an hour, we were on the tube. It was incredibly smooth. The whole process was a breeze -- fast track immigration with a minimal queue, electronic passport gates, speedy luggage retrieval and a walk through customs.

The long haul begins … our first leg was a 13 ½ hour flight to Doha, Qatar. We had great seats – Wanda had three to herself (excellent way to get some sleep) and Alistair popped into a row behind to have a double to himself. The flight encountered quite a bit of turbulence, making for a bumpy ride. Doha’s Hamad International Airport is impressive and huge, with an amazing garden area (The Orchard) to relax in. There are also some pretty funky sculptures and play areas to while away the time.